Dockers have an attitude problem

By
JORDAN ABELL

Dockers have an attitude problem

BURNIE co-coach Andrew Hering has put the acid on his players in the wake of Saturday night's upset 26-point loss to North Launceston, stating they must change their attitudes or risk being beaten on a regular basis.

It was an unusual performance from a side we've all come to expect to win at its West Park fortress over the past three years.

After jumping out to a comfortable lead at quarter-time with the aid of a slight breeze, the Dockers were soundly beaten in most areas of the game in the season opener.

Eight second-quarter goals, where they had 19 inside 50s to Burnie's nine, was the backbone to the Northern Bombers' success.

The visitors ran riot and the Dockers couldn't stem the flow.

Further cementing the loss were injuries to key players Nick Walters (calf) and Rudy Barrett (shoulder), who are in serious doubt for this Friday's Coastal derby against Devonport due to the short turnaround.

``Honestly I think it was an attitude problem. We trained well, but we just didn't have the right attitude and it cost us big time,'' Hering said of the defeat.

``We've got a team structure that we go to when teams get a run-on, whether it be possession footy or goals, but they were poor at it.

``We couldn't stop them and you just can't afford to give eight goals away in a quarter of footy.

``We knew they were going to use the ball well and run hard - we just had to deny them space - but we didn't do it.

``We gave them space and they led us to the ball, and you can't do that against sides that can use the footy like them.

``We set ourselves pretty high standards as a club, but we were really ordinary, way off the pace and we've got a long way to go.''

Vice-captain Darren Banham is also not a certainty to play in the Coastal derby after being a late withdrawal on Saturday with a hamstring complaint.